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2 Anti-Theft Firms Scrap No-Negative-Ads Deal

Two companies that produce electronic theft sensors used by retailers have settled federal antitrust charges, the Federal Trade Commission said. Regulators said that Sensormatic Electronics Corp. and Checkpoint Systems Inc. had unlawfully agreed to refrain from making negative remarks about each other's products in advertisements. The companies that dominate the theft-detection industry had agreed in 1994 to restrict advertising about possible harm that their products might cause consumers and merchandise. The companies agreed to scrap that agreement. No fines were involved in the settlement, the FTC said.